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Date: Sunday, 29 January 2006

Title: Marin's big wheels: How county's bicycle lobby amassed so much influence

Source: http://marinij.com/ci_3450266

Remarks: Mark Prado

From the Marin Civic Center to Sacramento and the halls of Congress, Marin's powerful bicycle lobby has flexed its political muscle, securing millions of dollars for its projects. When the Marin bicycle lobby talks, people listen. In fact, it has only been the "Terminator," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has dealt the lobby a defeat during a wave of success in recent months. From humble origins sown from the failed 1998 transportation sales tax, the local bike lobby has grown to be a force in county and regional politics and has touched virtually every transportation project in Marin. "We can deliver a big constituency," said Deb Hubsmith, advocacy director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, which has more than 1,100 dues-paying members. Marin residents own more than 100,000 bicycles, according to a county study. The coalition, with a $500,000 annual budget, works with another local advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives for Marin, to push bike issues locally and around the country. Hubsmith spoke from the Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday as she made her way back from another trip to Washington, D.C., where she spoke about bike issues. "I've been to Washington 17 times in the last six years," she said. Those visits helped forge powerful political connections, in particular with U.S. Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The connection paid off handsomely for Marin. In August, the county was one of four communities nationwide tapped to receive $25 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects. The money was part of a transportation bill passed by Congress as part of the "Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program," a federal effort to promote biking and walking backed by Oberstar. "We bring the passion and energy that's hard to say 'no' to," Hubsmith said. "Leaders know this is a positive thing for Marin, California and the country. Its time has come." In the past 14 months, bicycle advocates have positioned themselves to receive millions of Related Articles # Marin bicycle advocate lobbies for safe routes as well as federal grants dollars in federal, state and local funds to push the bike agenda in Marin.